NORTH-EAST textile artist Ingrid Wagner has broken the world record for knitting with the world's largest needles - and is now awaiting confirmation to bring the coveted title to the region.

The event at the Metroradio Arena, in Newcastle, was to highlight the revival in the popularity of knitting and to help launch the 11th Annual Pins and Needles, Needlework and Craft show at the venue on April 3 and 4. The current record stands at needles 3.5m long and 6.5cm in diameter. But Ms Wagner smashed this with needles 3.5m long - but 8cm in diameter. The needles are an exact scaled up model of an 8mm knitting needle, or an old imperial size 0.

Ms Wagner was helped in her mammoth task by members of the The Newcastle Eagles, who are enjoying a four-point cushion at the top of the BBL league and are well known for their ball handling skills.

They handled one end of the needles while Ms Wagner knitted with the other.

Ms Wagner used the needles to cast on ten stitches and knit ten rows to break the record.

She said: "This is beyond big knitting. This is enormous knitting. The current record holder lives in the South, so we reckoned it was time the North- East had something to say about that."

Ms Wagner takes an inspiring 21st Century approach to a traditional craft, with her own Big Knit Needles, up to 1.2m long and using her alternative knitting material Big Knit Yarn.

She will also be attending Pins and Needles with her Big Knit Workshops where visitors can have a go.